Combination Power Plant/Fluid Compressor for Service Vehicles

ABSTRACT

A combination power plant/fluid compressor is provided for service vehicles. A small displacement internal combustion engine can be used to drive a fluid compressor, both mounted on a platform that can be mounted on the vehicle. A coupler is used to directly couple power from a pulley mounted on the crankshaft of the engine to the fluid compressor. The engine can operate on fuel from the fuel tank on the vehicle. The engine can be water-cooled and be configured to circulate heated coolant to the engine cooling system on the vehicle. In another embodiment, the engine can be operatively coupled to a stand-alone air conditioning system. In a further embodiment, the engine can be operatively coupled to a stand-alone electrical charging system.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to and the benefit of U.S. ProvisionalPatent Application Ser. No. 61/015,530, filed Dec. 20, 2007 and U.S.Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/089,810, filed Aug. 18, 2008,each of which is incorporated herein in its entirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure is related to the field of fluid compressors, inparticular, fluid compressors used on service vehicles.

BACKGROUND

Air compressors and hydraulic fluid systems are often installed onvehicles used in service industries to provide a source of compressedair or pressurized hydraulic fluid such as is required for air-driventools or hydraulic power as is required for hydraulic tools andmachinery. Notable examples include the heavy equipment industry, thetire service industry and the oil and gas industry among numerous otherexamples as well known to those skilled in the art. Such vehicles aretypically trucks that are adapted for use and particular needs in thevarious service industries.

It is known to install air compressors or power take-off units (“PTO”)for hydraulic fluid systems in the engine compartments of servicevehicles where power can be taken from the service vehicle engine tooperate the air compressor or hydraulic fluid system. The disadvantageof this arrangement is that the engine of the service vehicle must beleft running or idling in order to keep the air compressor or hydraulicfluid system operational. This can result in increased fuel consumptionand maintenance costs for the service vehicle as the vehicle engine istypically larger in power capacity than is what is required toeffectively operate the air compressor. In addition, the serviceintervals for the vehicle engine are reduced due to the increased amountof time the engine is left running to operate the air compressor.

It is, therefore, desirable to provide an air compressor or hydraulicfluid system for a service vehicle that overcomes these shortcomings anddisadvantages.

SUMMARY

A combination power plant/fluid compressor for a service vehicle isprovided. In one embodiment, a small displacement power plant orinternal combustion engine can be provided to operate an air compressorhydraulic fluid system. For the purposes of this specification, the term“fluid compressor” is to be interpreted as meaning either an aircompressor and/or a compressor or pump for hydraulic fluid systems. Inone embodiment, the power plant can comprise a diesel engine. In anotherembodiment, the fluid compressor can comprise a screw-style aircompressor. The engine and fluid compressor can be mounted on a commonplatform or skid, the platform being mounted on the front or rear of theservice vehicle or at any other suitable location on the vehicle.

In another embodiment, the engine can be selected to operate on the samefuel as the service vehicle thereby making a separate supply of fuel forthe engine unnecessary. In a further embodiment, the engine can be awater-cooled engine that can be coupled to the cooling system of theservice vehicle engine. In this embodiment, heated coolant from theengine can be circulated through the service vehicle engine coolingsystem thereby keeping the service vehicle engine warm and easy to startin, for example, cold weather conditions, In another embodiment, an airconditioner compressor can be operatively coupled to the engine as partof a stand-alone air conditioning system, the system including acondenser unit, a receiver drier and an evaporator unit. The evaporatorunit can be installed in the ventilation system of the service vehicleor it can be a portable unit that can be placed in the service vehicle.By placing the evaporator unit in the service vehicle's ventilationsystem, the service vehicle's ventilation system blower motor can beused to circulate air cooled by the evaporator in the service vehiclethereby cooling the interior of the service vehicle cool in, forexample, warm weather conditions.

In another embodiment, the input shaft of the fluid compressor can bedirectly coupled to mounting means disposed on the end of the crankshaftof the engine. Such mounting means can include mounting tabs on a pulleydisposed on the end of the engine crankshaft. In one embodiment, splinedreceivers can be mounted on each of the mounting tabs on the crankshaftpulley and the input shaft of the fluid compressor. The splinedreceivers can be configured to receive a splined shaft that can beinserted into each of the splined receivers to directly couple theengine to the fluid compressor. In a further embodiment, the splinedshaft can be made of nylon or any other suitable material as well knownto those skilled in the art.

In another embodiment, the engine can be operatively coupled to astand-alone electrical charging system comprising an alternator or agenerator for use in providing electrical power to the service vehicleand/or charging the battery in the service vehicle to enable theoperation of the service vehicle's ventilation system blower motor tocirculate cooled air in the service vehicle when the stand-alone airconditioning system is provided thereby negating the need to operate theservice vehicle's engine and to prevent the service vehicle's batterybeing completely drained of power when the stand-alone air conditioningsystem is being operated.

Broadly stated, a combination power plant/fluid compressor is providedfor a service vehicle having a fuel tank, comprising: a platformconfigured for mounting on the vehicle; an engine having a crankshaftoperatively disposed on the platform, the engine configured to operateon fuel from the fuel tank; a fluid compressor operatively disposed onthe platform; and a coupler operatively disposed between the engine andthe fluid compressor, the coupler configured to couple power directlyfrom the crankshaft of the engine to the fluid compressor.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a side elevation view depicting a combination powerplant/fluid compressor for a service vehicle including a stand-alone airconditioning system.

FIG. 2 is a side elevation exploded view depicting the coupler of thecombination power plant/fluid compressor of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a side elevation view depicting another embodiment of thecombination power plant/fluid compressor of FIG. 1 including astand-alone electrical charging system.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

Referring to FIG. 1, an embodiment of a combination power plant/fluidcompressor for a service vehicle is provided. In this embodiment,apparatus 10 can include engine 12 and fluid compressor 14 mounted onplatform 16. Crankshaft 24 of engine 12 can be coupled to input shaft 28of fluid compressor 14 via coupler 20. In another embodiment, platform16 can further include cooler/oil tank 18 for fluid compressor 14.

In one embodiment, engine 12 can be supplied with fuel via fuel line 40from a service vehicle (not shown). Engine 12 can be any suitableinternal combustion engine running on gasoline, diesel, bio-diesel,methane, propane or any other suitable fuel. If engine 12 uses the samefuel as the service vehicle, then engine 12 can be supplied with fuelfrom the service vehicle's fuel tank thereby eliminating the need for aseparate fuel tank for engine 12. In a representative embodiment, engine12 can be a water-cooled, diesel engine in the 10 to 12 horsepowerrange. An example of a suitable engine is the model Z482-E3B industrialdiesel engine as manufactured by Kubota Corporation of Osaka, Japanalthough it is obvious to those skilled in the art that any suitable orequivalent engine can be used. In this representative embodiment, thewater coolant circulating through engine 12 as it is operating becomesheated and can be coupled to the service vehicle's engine (not shown)via hoses 42 to circulate through the cooling system of the servicevehicle's engine. In so doing, the service vehicle's engine can be keptwarm and thereby easier to start in cold weather conditions.

In one embodiment, fluid compressor 14 can comprise any suitable aircompressor known to those skilled in the art for supplying compressedair for use with air tools. In a representative embodiment, fluidcompressor 14 can comprise an NK30 screw-type air compressor asmanufactured by Rotocomp Verdichter Gmbh in Germany. In anotherembodiment, fluid compressor 14 can supply compressed air to air tank 50via air line 44, check valve 46 and air line 48. In a furtherembodiment, engine 12 can be configured to start, run and stopautomatically to keep air pressure in air tank 50 at a predeterminedpressure. Pressure sensor 52 can be mounted on air tank 50 and canprovide sensor information regarding the air pressure in air tank 50 toauto start module 56 via wires 54. Auto start module 56 can be connectedto start/run/stop module 22 disposed on engine 12 via wires 58. When theair pressure in air tank 50 drops below a predetermined low-pressurethreshold, auto start module 56 can provide an electronic command tomodule 22 to start engine 12 and keep engine 12 running until the airpressure in air tank 50 reaches a predetermined high-pressure thresholdupon which, auto start module 56 can provide another electronic commandto module 22 to stop engine 12 so as to conserve fuel. Auto start module56 can comprise a microprocessor operatively connected to electroniccomponents that are, in turn, operatively coupled to sensor 52 andengine 12, the microprocessor controlled by a program stored on memorystorage means. In another embodiment, auto start module 56 can comprisediscrete active and passive electronic components as well known to thoseskilled in the art for receiving sensor information from sensor 52 andto provide engine start, run and stop commands to start/run/stop module22 disposed on engine 12. Start/run/stop module 22 provides means toreceive signals from auto start module 56 to start and run engine 12when it is not running as well as to stop engine 12 when it is running.Start/run/stop module 22 can be provided by the manufacturer of engine12, or it can be provided by a third party manufacturer, such as themanufacturer of remote car starters as well known by those skilled inthe art.

Referring to FIG. 2, an exploded view of coupler 20 is shown. In oneembodiment, coupler 20 can comprise coupler half 60 that can be fastenedto pulley 26 by bolts 72 passing through holes 74 and threading intomounting tabs 70 on pulley 26. Coupler 20 also comprises coupler half 64that can be fastened to input shaft 28 of compressor 14. In oneembodiment, input shaft 28 can be inserted into opening 76 and securedto coupler half 64 by tightening setscrew 78. In another embodiment,input shaft 28 and opening 76 can have complementary mating polygonalcross-sectional shapes or a “D-shape” to enable positive rotationalengagement from coupler half 64 to input shaft 28. In a furtherembodiment, shaft 28 and opening 76 can comprise splines for positiverotational engagement. In yet another embodiment, input shaft 28 can bethreaded into opening 76 and secured by setscrew 78 or a locknut (notshown) in addition to any other suitable coupling means obvious to thoseskilled in the art.

Disposed between coupler halves 60 and 64 can be coupler shaft 68inserted in both cavities 62 and 66. In one embodiment, splines can bedisposed on coupler shaft 68 and in cavities 62 and 66 to enablepositive rotational engagement between coupler halves 60 and 64. Inother embodiments, cavities 62 and 66 and coupler shaft 68 can havecomplementary mating polygonal cross-sectional shapes or a “D-shape” toenable positive rotational engagement. In a further embodiment, shaft 68can be secured in either or both coupler halves 60 and 64 with setscrews(not shown). In yet another embodiment, coupler shaft 68 can becomprised of nylon or any other suitable material for transmittingrotational power as obvious to those skilled in the art.

In another embodiment, apparatus 10 can further comprise means forproviding a source of pressurized hydraulic fluid for operatinghydraulic mechanisms disposed on the service vehicle, such as jacks,booms, power lift-gates or ramps or any other type of equipment or toolsrequiring a supply of pressurized hydraulic fluid as well known to thoseskilled in the art. Referring back to FIG. 1, engine 12 can furthercomprise hydraulic pump 34 coupled to pulley 26 via belt 30. Hydraulichoses 38 can be coupled between pump 34 and hydraulic system 36 for thecirculation of hydraulic fluid. Pump 34 can further comprise clutchpulley 32 that can engage rotational force from belt 30 to pump 34 whenpressurized hydraulic fluid is required for hydraulic system 36, andthat can further disengage pump 34 and freewheel when pressurized fluidis not required. In other embodiments, fluid compressor 14 can comprisehydraulic pump 34 as opposed to hydraulic pump 34 coupled to engine 12via pulley 26 and belt 30. In these embodiments, auto start module 56.

In another embodiment, apparatus 10 can include stand-alone airconditioner system 81 operatively coupled to engine 12, as shown inFIG. 1. In this embodiment, shaft 82 from engine 12 can turn pulley 84to rotate clutch pulley 88 on air conditioner compressor 80 via belt 86as well known to those skilled in the art. Compressed coolant disposedin air conditioner system 81 moves from compressor 80 through dischargehose 90 to condenser unit 92. Condensed coolant can then flow fromcondenser unit 90 to drier unit 96 via hose 94. Coolant can then flowthrough hose 98 to evaporator unit 100. From evaporator unit 100,evaporated coolant can be drawn to compressor 80 through suction hose102 to be compressed by compressor 80 and to be continually circulatedwhen air conditioning system 81 is in operation. Evaporator unit 100 canbe placed in the ventilation system of the vehicle whereby the vehicle'sventilation system blower motor can blow air through evaporator unit 100thereby cooling the air that circulated in the vehicle so as to cool thevehicle. In another embodiment, evaporator unit 100 can be a portableunit with its own fan or fans to circulate air through evaporator unit100 to cool it. In this embodiment, fans can be electric fans powered byelectrical power provided by the vehicle's battery or electrical powergenerated by apparatus 10.

Referring to FIG. 3, another embodiment of apparatus 10 is shown. Inthis embodiment, engine 12 can be operatively coupled to stand-alonecharging system 118. Drive shaft 82 and pulley 84 can move belt 86 torotate pulley 105 coupled to alternator 104. It is obvious to thoseskilled in the art that alternator 104 can be substituted with agenerator. Alternator 104 can be operatively connected to the positiveterminal of battery 114 that can be disposed in the vehicle where thenegative terminal of battery 114 can be connected to an electricalground connection on the vehicle via cable 116. As obvious to thoseskilled in the art, the connections to the positive and negativeterminals of battery 114 can be reversed on vehicles that use a positiveground as opposed to a negative ground as commonly used on vehicles inNorth America. In one embodiment, alternator 104 can be connected tobattery 114 with a battery cable of sufficient size to carry the currentsupplied from alternator 104 to battery 114. In another embodiment,isolator block 108 can be disposed in the electrical connection betweenalternator 104 and battery 114 via cables 106 and 112. Isolator block108 can permit an alternate source of electrical power to charge battery114. Isolator block 108 can be comprised of diodes, as well known tothose skilled in the art, to allow electrical power from two differentsources to be delivered to a single load and still isolate one powersource from the other. Any equivalent device as well known to thoseskilled in the art can be used as well.

In one embodiment, cable 110 can provide an electrical connection fromthe alternator or generator disposed on the engine of the servicevehicle so as to enable charging of battery 114 when the vehicle'sengine is running or when engine 12 is running. In another embodiment,cable 110 can provide an electrical connection from an alternate sourceof power such as an external power supply (not shown) that can rectifyalternating current (“AC”) electrical power, supplied from a source ofcommercially-available AC electricity located near where the vehicle islocated, to direct current (“DC”) power suitable for charging battery114, or by a solar panel system disposed on the vehicle (not shown)whereby the solar panel system can charge battery 114 in daylightconditions when engine 12 is not running.

Although a few embodiments have been shown and described, it will beappreciated by those skilled in the art that various changes andmodifications might be made without departing from the scope of theinvention. The terms and expressions used in the preceding specificationhave been used herein as terms of description and not of limitation, andthere is no intention in the use of such terms and expressions ofexcluding equivalents of the features shown and described or portionsthereof, it being recognized that the scope of the invention is definedand limited only by the claims that follow.

1. A combination power plant/fluid compressor for a service vehiclehaving a fuel tank, comprising: a) a platform configured for mounting onthe service vehicle; b) a first water-cooled, internal combustion enginehaving a crankshaft, the first engine operatively disposed on theplatform, the first engine configured to operate on fuel from the fueltank; c) a fluid compressor operatively disposed on the platform; and d)a coupler operatively disposed between the first engine and the fluidcompressor, the coupler configured to couple power directly from thecrankshaft of the first engine to the fluid compressor.
 2. Thecombination power plant/fluid compressor as set forth in claim 1 whereinthe coupler comprises a first coupler half operatively coupled to thecrankshaft, a second coupler half operatively coupled to the fluidcompressor and a coupler shaft disposed between the first and secondcoupler halves, the coupler shaft configured to rotationally engage thefirst coupler half to the second coupler half.
 3. The combination powerplant/fluid compressor as set forth in claim 2 wherein the couplerhalves and the coupler shaft both comprise splines.
 4. The combinationpower plant/fluid compressor as set forth in claim 2 wherein the couplerhalves and the coupler shaft comprise complementary cross-sectionalshapes.
 5. The combination power plant/fluid compressor as set forth inclaim 4 wherein the cross-sectional shape is polygonal or D-shaped. 6.The combination power plant/fluid compressor as set forth in claim 1further comprising means for circulating heated coolant from the firstengine to a second engine disposed in the service vehicle.
 7. Thecombination power plant/fluid compressor as set forth in claim 6 whereinthe means further comprises hose means configured for circulating theheated coolant.
 8. The combination power plant/fluid compressor as setforth in claim 1 further comprising a stand-alone air conditioningsystem operatively coupled to the engine for use in cooling the interiorof the service vehicle.
 9. The combination power plant/fluid compressoras set forth in claim 8 further comprising an evaporator configured tobe disposed in the service vehicle.
 10. The combination powerplant/fluid compressor as set forth in claim 9 wherein the evaporator isconfigured to be installed in a ventilation system disposed in theservice vehicle.
 11. The combination power plant/fluid compressor as setforth in claim 1 further comprising a stand-alone electrical chargingsystem operatively coupled to the first engine for charging a secondcharging system disposed in the service vehicle.
 12. The combinationpower plant/fluid compressor as set forth in claim 11 wherein thestand-alone electrical charging system further comprises a solar panelsystem or an external power supply for charging the second chargingsystem when the first engine is not running.
 13. The combination powerplant/fluid compressor as set forth in claim 1 wherein the fluidcompressor comprises one or more selected from the group consisting ofan air compressor and a hydraulic fluid pump.
 14. The combination powerplant/fluid compressor as set forth in claim 2 wherein the fluidcompressor comprises one or more selected from the group consisting ofan air compressor and a hydraulic fluid pump.
 15. The combination powerplant/fluid compressor as set forth in claim 6 wherein the fluidcompressor comprises one or more selected from the group consisting ofan air compressor and a hydraulic fluid pump.
 16. The combination powerplant/fluid compressor as set forth in claim 8 wherein the fluidcompressor comprises one or more selected from the group consisting ofan air compressor and a hydraulic fluid pump.
 17. The combination powerplant/fluid compressor as set forth in claim 11 wherein the fluidcompressor comprises one or more selected from the group consisting ofan air compressor and a hydraulic fluid pump.